(BAILLIE, Joanna)

A Series of Plays: in Which it is Attempted to Delineate the Stronger Passions of the Mind. Each Passion Being the Subject of A Tragedy and a Comedy

London for T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies 1799, 411 p. 21 cm. 2nd ed. Hardcover. 1/4 leather binding. Front bottom corner crunched, hinges tender, front free endpaper torn, p. 1 has piece clipped on top not affecting text, minor spotting & waterstaining in interior, some minor tears on corners. Baillie (1762-1851) was a Scottish playwright and poet born in Lanarkshire, and claimed to be a descendent of Sir William Wallace. When she was 36 and had written nothing except a few poems, she decided to produce a series of plays, each based on the operation of a single passion on human nature and life. Plays on the Passions was published shortly after. They created a literary furore, and since they were pub. anonymously one critic thought they were by Sir Walter Scott. Because of this, a friendship began with Scott which continued throughout their lives. Since Miss Baillie had no practical experience of the theatre, her plays were what is called "reading plays", unsuitable for stage presentation. However, one of them (De Montfort) was produced by John Kemble and Mrs. Siddons in 1800 because the actors thought so highly of it. Her later plays were more actable, and produced with much success. The Baillie sisters kept open house, and were literary lionesses for many years. Byron and other leading writers of the day spoke of her with the most exaggerated praise, and she was ranked as a dramatist 'second only to Shakespeare'. At eighty-nine she was tired of life, said so, went to bed, and died. (British Authors Kunitz & Haycraft).

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• ordernr.: 001039

• bookseller: Attic Books (CANADA)